International community mourn GKP's demise

Death of Girija Prasad Koirala, the leader who played key role in bringing down both 240-year old monarchy and the 10-year long bloody war, was mourned internationally.

On the second day of his demise, condolences continued to pour in from prominent leaders across the world, including UN Secretary General, representatives of governments and political parties from neighbouring countries and other well wishers of Koirala, Nepal and Nepalis.

Most of their condolences said Koirala’s demise was a huge loss to the country, passing through a turbulent peace process, and to the entire South Asia.

Deeply saddened by the passing of Koirala, Secretary-General of the United Nations Ban Ki-moon said, “Koirala’s death is a huge loss for Nepal and its ongoing peace process.” As a friend of the United Nations and a staunch believer in its ideals and principles, Ban said, Koirala will be remembered as a strong voice of multilateralism and global cooperation.

The Secretary-General praised Koirala as a pioneer of Nepal’s labour and democratic movement of the 20th Century. “His courageous and resolute leadership played a central role in the 2006 People’s Movement and to the ending of the 10-year armed conflict.”

The Secretary-General also said he will remain grateful for Koirala’s unwavering support to the UN for its role in the peace process as well as its development, and human rights work in Nepal.

Prime Minister of Pakistan SyedYusufRazaGilani and Foreign Minister of Pakistan, Shah MahmoodQureshi addressed messages of condolence to their counterparts, as well as the government and people of Nepal. Koirala, stated Gilani, had played a very important role in the political developments of Nepal in the past decades and his passing away is indeed a national loss to Nepal.

Hon’ble Speaker of Indian LokSabhaMeira Kumar said Koirala was one of the greatest leaders of Nepal and of South Asia. “The passing away of Koirala marks the end of an era in the Nepali politics. At this difficult hour of mourning, the Parliament of India and its people extend their heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family members, the Nepali Congress party and the people of Nepal,” Kumar wrote in the Condolence Book at Dashrath Stadium.

Expressing heart-felt condolences India’s Minister of External Affairs Shri S.M. Krishna said Koirala death has left a void in Nepal’s history. Nepal and South Asia, he said, have lost an outstanding political leader, who was passionately committed to the cause of democracy and peace and friendship between our two countries. She said Koirala would always remain source of inspiration for both the present and future generations.

India’s Finance Minister ShriPranabMukherjee said the loss is irreparable not only for Nepal, India and South Asia but also for the cause of democracy and peace. “An institution in himself, Koirala played a very important role in the struggle for democracy in Nepal and in strengthening the close relations between our two countries,” stated Mukherjee. “In his demise, we have lost a statesman, a true democrat and a great friend of India.”

Similarly, Embassy of Japan T. Mizuno Koirala’s expressed condolences on behalf of the Government of Japan and the Japanese people. Mizuno said the demise is a great loss for the nation. “Koirala made a historic contribution to the ongoing peace process and democracy of Nepal. Embassy of Japan wishes all political parties to be united and accelerate the writing of the constitution for its peace process.”